Taipei, Nov. 7 (CNA) Riding on the success of previous efforts, Taiwan will once again leverage its advantage in information and communication (ICT) technology at the upcoming informal leadership meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, a government official said Tuesday.
Taiwan will submit an initiative titled the "2006 APEC Cultural Digital Archive Sharing Program" at the summit, which will be held in Hanoi from Nov. 18-19, said John Chen, director- general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of International Organizations.
The objective of the initiative is to help APEC members preserve their cultural assets with Taiwan's advantage in the ICT sector and experience in cultural assets preservation, Chen said.
The campaign is the third consecutive initiative Taiwan will have submitted at an APEC summit, following the "APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) " in 2003 and the "ADOC plus OVOP (One Village, One Product)" in 2005.
The technology-based initiatives make President Chen Shui-bian's appointment of Morris Chang, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), as Taiwan's APEC representative very reasonable and appropriate, he noted.
To some extent, Taiwan has changed its strategy on its APEC participation after clashing with China on different occasions over the years, Chen said.
APEC was established as an organization that focuses on economy and technology issues, although it has expanded to include other discussions. Taiwan has been concentrated on the economy and technology issues, trying to facilitate regional cooperation and assist other members of the international community, he said.
Since 2003, six ADOC offices have been set up in APEC countries such as Chile, Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, with help from Taiwan. The OVOP initiative last year also won praise from APEC members.
"Taiwan has been trying to help its international friends to cross the digital divide into digital opportunities. We believe this is another way to win support and friendship, " Chen said.
Friday, November 10, 2006
TAIPEI TO HOST INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON E-COMMERCE
Taipei, Nov. 7 (CNA) For the first time, an international forum on e-commerce will be held in Taipei that will have a stake in determining the future direction of global e-commerce develepment, organizers said Tuesday.
The Global Business Dialogue on e-commerce (GBDe) will be a two-day forum Nov. 9-10 and attended by over 200 e-commerce business leaders, company representatives and government officials from around the world.
"The new age of global e-commerce has arrived and e-commerce will be integrated very soon into our daily activities. And if Taiwan works hard enough in the field, it will be able to play an important role in Asian and global e-commerce, " said GDBe overall chair Ho Chen-tan, who serves as president and CEO of Chunghwa Telecom, the event's main organizer.
Topics to be discussed include the rise of ubiquitous network security, cyber-security threats and countermeasures, the impact of next generation networks, creating a cross-border market, winning the confidence of consumers and the rise of mega media digital content.
Chunghwa Telecom, a key member in the GBDe working group on international micro-payment, demonstrated how it has successfully worked with partners in China and South Korea to develop a cross-border platform and micro-payment measures allowing users to view and download digital content, such as movies, music and animation.
"With secured online verification, consumers can access the payment system by mobile phones, fixed line phones or the Internet, " Ho said.
Technological development and global integration and cooperation will one day make e-commerce truly borderless, Ho said, adding that the mechanism of micro-payment will benefit non-credit card holders such as teenagers.
The Global Business Dialogue on e-commerce (GBDe) will be a two-day forum Nov. 9-10 and attended by over 200 e-commerce business leaders, company representatives and government officials from around the world.
"The new age of global e-commerce has arrived and e-commerce will be integrated very soon into our daily activities. And if Taiwan works hard enough in the field, it will be able to play an important role in Asian and global e-commerce, " said GDBe overall chair Ho Chen-tan, who serves as president and CEO of Chunghwa Telecom, the event's main organizer.
Topics to be discussed include the rise of ubiquitous network security, cyber-security threats and countermeasures, the impact of next generation networks, creating a cross-border market, winning the confidence of consumers and the rise of mega media digital content.
Chunghwa Telecom, a key member in the GBDe working group on international micro-payment, demonstrated how it has successfully worked with partners in China and South Korea to develop a cross-border platform and micro-payment measures allowing users to view and download digital content, such as movies, music and animation.
"With secured online verification, consumers can access the payment system by mobile phones, fixed line phones or the Internet, " Ho said.
Technological development and global integration and cooperation will one day make e-commerce truly borderless, Ho said, adding that the mechanism of micro-payment will benefit non-credit card holders such as teenagers.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
V.P. CAUTIONS O'SEAS TAIWANESE AGAINST CHINA'S UNITED FRONT TACTICS
Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu urged overseas Taiwanese Monday to stand strong against China's united front tactics and to "keep the faith" regarding Taiwan's future.
China has disguised itself as a "peacefully rising" country and implemented numerous strategies to handle the cross-Strait issue, Lu said during an address at the annual meeting of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC).
Since the passage of an "anti-secession law" and rapid economic growth, China has been utilizing multi-faceted "united front" tactics in economic, cultural and religious exchanges to try to pursuade the people of Taiwan that China no longer poses a threat, she said.
But it neither stops repressing Taiwan in the international community nor building up its military capability, she added.
Fortunately, Taiwan has never lost its competitive edge. In recent years, it consistently ranks higher than China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries in most global competitiveness surveys.
Overseas Taiwanese play an important role in Taiwan's development, Lu stressed, adding that she hoped compatriots overseas can work together with the government and people of Taiwan to meet any challenges ahead.
China has disguised itself as a "peacefully rising" country and implemented numerous strategies to handle the cross-Strait issue, Lu said during an address at the annual meeting of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC).
Since the passage of an "anti-secession law" and rapid economic growth, China has been utilizing multi-faceted "united front" tactics in economic, cultural and religious exchanges to try to pursuade the people of Taiwan that China no longer poses a threat, she said.
But it neither stops repressing Taiwan in the international community nor building up its military capability, she added.
Fortunately, Taiwan has never lost its competitive edge. In recent years, it consistently ranks higher than China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries in most global competitiveness surveys.
Overseas Taiwanese play an important role in Taiwan's development, Lu stressed, adding that she hoped compatriots overseas can work together with the government and people of Taiwan to meet any challenges ahead.
MOST TAIWANESE TEENS WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MONEY MANAGEMENT: POLL
Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) Almost two-thirds of Taiwanese teenagers said they wanted to learn more about money management, but they are not provided with such instruction in schools, a survey found.
While 64 percent of Taiwan's teens said they want to learn more about how to manage money, only three percent have received help from school teachers and professors, according to the result of a "Teens and Money" survey conducted by Citigroup.
The results, combined with a deteriorating credit crisis common among students, showed that an educational program in financial literacy is much needed, said Joyce Fang, a National Taiwan University professor.
Schools are not alone in this respect, as government agencies and banks have joined the collective effort. A three-year financial literacy campaign has been launched by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), said Gary Tseng, director general of the Banking Bureau.
Citigroup has also earmarked US$2 million for a worldwide financial literacy program, said Dara Duguay, director of Citigroup's Office of Financial Education.
"Teenagers are taught to make money, and they are pretty good at spending money -- obviously. However, no one is teaching them how to manage money," said Duguay.
The survey, which aimed to analyze the attitudes of Asian teenagers and young adults on money matters and personal finance, was conducted in Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea, based on responses of 900 respondents aged between 15 to 18.
Teenagers in Taiwan receive the second highest weekly allowance, -- behind Hong Kong -- and 64 percent rely on their parents as the only source of money, the survey found.
While 64 percent of Taiwan's teens said they want to learn more about how to manage money, only three percent have received help from school teachers and professors, according to the result of a "Teens and Money" survey conducted by Citigroup.
The results, combined with a deteriorating credit crisis common among students, showed that an educational program in financial literacy is much needed, said Joyce Fang, a National Taiwan University professor.
Schools are not alone in this respect, as government agencies and banks have joined the collective effort. A three-year financial literacy campaign has been launched by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), said Gary Tseng, director general of the Banking Bureau.
Citigroup has also earmarked US$2 million for a worldwide financial literacy program, said Dara Duguay, director of Citigroup's Office of Financial Education.
"Teenagers are taught to make money, and they are pretty good at spending money -- obviously. However, no one is teaching them how to manage money," said Duguay.
The survey, which aimed to analyze the attitudes of Asian teenagers and young adults on money matters and personal finance, was conducted in Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea, based on responses of 900 respondents aged between 15 to 18.
Teenagers in Taiwan receive the second highest weekly allowance, -- behind Hong Kong -- and 64 percent rely on their parents as the only source of money, the survey found.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
FOREIGN COUNTRIES STRIVE TO ATTRACT TAIWANESE TOURISTS AT TRAVEL FAIR
Taipei, Nov. 4 (CNA) The ongoing 2006 Taipei International Travel Fair has provided representatives of foreign countries, such as Austria and India, with yet another opportunity to attract Taiwanese tourists to their countries.
Over the last three years, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Austria per year has doubled, from 30,000 in 2003 to roughly 60,000 in 2006, said Wolfram Moritz, Austrian trade delegate in Taiwan.
"Hopefully we can make it 100,000 per year very soon, " he said.
Travel trends in Taiwan have been changing, Moritz said, noting that fewer Taiwanese tourists visit Europe on multi-country package tours. "Tourists prefer one-stop travel so they can spend less time on transportation and more time on exploring the destination. According to our statistics, the average stay of Taiwanese tourists in Austria is now ten days."
The Austria Trade Delegation has tried to take advantage of the trend by promoting outdoor activities and special events this year, such as festivals celebrating the Austrian classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birth anniversary, to attract more Taiwanese tourists, Moritz said.
Like Austria, Hong Kong has been going all out with its "2006 Discover Hong Kong Year" promotion campaign, but it has set a more conservative goal in terms of attracting Taiwanese tourists.
"The Hong Kong-Taiwan tourism market is a mature market as more than two million Taiwanese visited Hong Kong last year. It is hard to envision an explosive growth, " said Vivian Chan, senior marketing communications executive of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
However, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Hong Kong for the first three quarters of 2006 still showed growth of 3 percent over the level for the same period a year earlier, she said.
"It's already a good result for a market like this, " she said.
India has also emerged as a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists, with the number of Taiwanese visiting India increasing 70 percent in the past year, said G. Venkataraman, East Asia regional director of Indiatourism.
With the increased bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and India and better infrastructure and travel arrangements in India, Ventakaraman said he believes more Taiwanese tourists will visit India in the future.
Over the last three years, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Austria per year has doubled, from 30,000 in 2003 to roughly 60,000 in 2006, said Wolfram Moritz, Austrian trade delegate in Taiwan.
"Hopefully we can make it 100,000 per year very soon, " he said.
Travel trends in Taiwan have been changing, Moritz said, noting that fewer Taiwanese tourists visit Europe on multi-country package tours. "Tourists prefer one-stop travel so they can spend less time on transportation and more time on exploring the destination. According to our statistics, the average stay of Taiwanese tourists in Austria is now ten days."
The Austria Trade Delegation has tried to take advantage of the trend by promoting outdoor activities and special events this year, such as festivals celebrating the Austrian classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birth anniversary, to attract more Taiwanese tourists, Moritz said.
Like Austria, Hong Kong has been going all out with its "2006 Discover Hong Kong Year" promotion campaign, but it has set a more conservative goal in terms of attracting Taiwanese tourists.
"The Hong Kong-Taiwan tourism market is a mature market as more than two million Taiwanese visited Hong Kong last year. It is hard to envision an explosive growth, " said Vivian Chan, senior marketing communications executive of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
However, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Hong Kong for the first three quarters of 2006 still showed growth of 3 percent over the level for the same period a year earlier, she said.
"It's already a good result for a market like this, " she said.
India has also emerged as a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists, with the number of Taiwanese visiting India increasing 70 percent in the past year, said G. Venkataraman, East Asia regional director of Indiatourism.
With the increased bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and India and better infrastructure and travel arrangements in India, Ventakaraman said he believes more Taiwanese tourists will visit India in the future.
Friday, November 03, 2006
ECCT SURVEY RANKS TAIPEI FOURTH MOST LIVABLE ASIAN CITY
Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) Taipei has been ranked as the fourth most livable Asian city out of eight contestants in a survey conducted among European Chambers around the Asia-Pacific region,the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (ECCT) announced Friday.
Kuala Lumpur came in as the best place to live with the highest overall quality of life, followed by Hong Kong and Manila, the survey conducted by ECCT over the course of the summer found after collecting 585 member replies from seven European Chambers in the region.
Shanghai/Beijing, Ho Chi Minh/Hanoi, Jakarta and Seoul rounded out the fifth to eighth spot, said Mike Jewell, senior director of Research Department, TNS -- a marketing research firm.
The survey asked respondents to rate the city they currently reside, on a one to five scale, in 53 individual aspects, such as personal safety, the range and quality of housing, emergency service and the quality of banking and air.
Thirty-six percent of ECCT members described living in Taipei as "excellent" or "very good", while Kuala Lumpur emerged on top at 68 percent.
While Taipei was ranked above average in most catogories, among them the educational facility and the availability and quality of internet services, its air quality surprisingly ranked the best among eight Asian cities.
However, Taipei scored below average in catogories such as the overall quality of medical services, housing and banking services.
Several cities, including Singapore, were not included in the survey due to insufficient samples.
Kuala Lumpur came in as the best place to live with the highest overall quality of life, followed by Hong Kong and Manila, the survey conducted by ECCT over the course of the summer found after collecting 585 member replies from seven European Chambers in the region.
Shanghai/Beijing, Ho Chi Minh/Hanoi, Jakarta and Seoul rounded out the fifth to eighth spot, said Mike Jewell, senior director of Research Department, TNS -- a marketing research firm.
The survey asked respondents to rate the city they currently reside, on a one to five scale, in 53 individual aspects, such as personal safety, the range and quality of housing, emergency service and the quality of banking and air.
Thirty-six percent of ECCT members described living in Taipei as "excellent" or "very good", while Kuala Lumpur emerged on top at 68 percent.
While Taipei was ranked above average in most catogories, among them the educational facility and the availability and quality of internet services, its air quality surprisingly ranked the best among eight Asian cities.
However, Taipei scored below average in catogories such as the overall quality of medical services, housing and banking services.
Several cities, including Singapore, were not included in the survey due to insufficient samples.
TAIWAN SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE IN APEC PARTICIPATION: ACADEMICS
Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) The government, media and people of Taiwan should be more active in participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum at all levels, professors said in a seminar focused on Taiwan's APEC participation Friday.
Taiwan should maximize its expertise in fields such as public health safety and information and communication technology (ICT) to make it an agenda-setter in APEC, Lin Cheng-yi, a professor at National Chengchi University, said two weeks before the annual APEC Summit, which will be held in Vietnam from Nov. 12- 20.
Local government involvement in APEC activities can also increased, said Wu Fu-sheng, deputy director of the Department of International Affairs of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research.
Russia, which will host the APEC summit in 2012, is a good example for Taiwan, Wu said. Russia has been inviting local government officials to its APEC delegations since 1998, he noted.
Taiwan's media and the general public should also pay attention to more than just the special envoy appointed by the president because "APEC meetings means more than that to Taiwan, " Lin said.
"Most people don't realize that APEC is the only international organization in which Taiwan has full membership, " he claimed.
"In fact, APEC is the only multilateral platform for Taiwan in the international community, " said Michael Hsiao, executive director of Academia Sinica's Center for Asia-Pacific Studies.
Taiwan's APEC participation should "emphasize the essence instead of the appearance, " Hsiao said.
Taiwan should maximize its expertise in fields such as public health safety and information and communication technology (ICT) to make it an agenda-setter in APEC, Lin Cheng-yi, a professor at National Chengchi University, said two weeks before the annual APEC Summit, which will be held in Vietnam from Nov. 12- 20.
Local government involvement in APEC activities can also increased, said Wu Fu-sheng, deputy director of the Department of International Affairs of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research.
Russia, which will host the APEC summit in 2012, is a good example for Taiwan, Wu said. Russia has been inviting local government officials to its APEC delegations since 1998, he noted.
Taiwan's media and the general public should also pay attention to more than just the special envoy appointed by the president because "APEC meetings means more than that to Taiwan, " Lin said.
"Most people don't realize that APEC is the only international organization in which Taiwan has full membership, " he claimed.
"In fact, APEC is the only multilateral platform for Taiwan in the international community, " said Michael Hsiao, executive director of Academia Sinica's Center for Asia-Pacific Studies.
Taiwan's APEC participation should "emphasize the essence instead of the appearance, " Hsiao said.
TAIPEI INT'L TRAVEL FAIR MARCHES INTO 20TH YEAR
Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) A record-breaking number of exhibitors from 58 countries and an estimated 160,000 visitors will be attending the largest travel fair in Southeast Asia, as the Taipei International Travel Fair (ITF) marches into its 20th year.
More than 1,150 exhibition booths -- a 40 percent increase over last year -- have been set up for the annual Taipei ITF, which will be held Nov. 3- 6 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall I.
National and local tourism bureaus, travel agencies, hotels and resorts, theme parks, private tourism enterprises and tourism-related organizations from 60 countries, including first-time participants from Iran, Kenya, Sweden and Tunisia, have registered to take part in the event.
China is the country with the most exhibitors, occupying 200 booths; second is Japan with 69 booths; Malaysia ranks third with 20 booths; followed by Korea (13), Hong Kong (12), Macau (11), Australia (10), Thailand (8) and Singapore (8).
The number of local exhibitors also showed a 78-percent increase over last year, suggesting the tourism market's potential in Taiwan has risen again as Taiwan's economy recovers, said Stanley Yen, chairman of the Taipei ITF Organizing Committee.
The event also pays attention to the rising market for "accessible tourism," also known as wheelchair travel or disability travel, in one of its themed pavilions, Yen said.
The Taipei ITF has been witnessing Taiwan's development since 1987, when the first ITF was held, as Taiwan went from an inbound market to an outbound market in tourism, Yen said.
There were only 800,000 outbound travelers and 1.6 million visitors to Taiwan in 1987. In 2005, Taiwan had 8.2 million outbound travelers and 3.38 million visitors, Yen pointed out.
For the first time, organizers have selected 15 citizen journalists to cover the 4-day event in weblogs to encourage civil journalism and tourism literature.
More than 1,150 exhibition booths -- a 40 percent increase over last year -- have been set up for the annual Taipei ITF, which will be held Nov. 3- 6 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall I.
National and local tourism bureaus, travel agencies, hotels and resorts, theme parks, private tourism enterprises and tourism-related organizations from 60 countries, including first-time participants from Iran, Kenya, Sweden and Tunisia, have registered to take part in the event.
China is the country with the most exhibitors, occupying 200 booths; second is Japan with 69 booths; Malaysia ranks third with 20 booths; followed by Korea (13), Hong Kong (12), Macau (11), Australia (10), Thailand (8) and Singapore (8).
The number of local exhibitors also showed a 78-percent increase over last year, suggesting the tourism market's potential in Taiwan has risen again as Taiwan's economy recovers, said Stanley Yen, chairman of the Taipei ITF Organizing Committee.
The event also pays attention to the rising market for "accessible tourism," also known as wheelchair travel or disability travel, in one of its themed pavilions, Yen said.
The Taipei ITF has been witnessing Taiwan's development since 1987, when the first ITF was held, as Taiwan went from an inbound market to an outbound market in tourism, Yen said.
There were only 800,000 outbound travelers and 1.6 million visitors to Taiwan in 1987. In 2005, Taiwan had 8.2 million outbound travelers and 3.38 million visitors, Yen pointed out.
For the first time, organizers have selected 15 citizen journalists to cover the 4-day event in weblogs to encourage civil journalism and tourism literature.
MUSEUMS MUST REPOSITION THEMSELVES TO KEEP UP WITH CHANGING TIMES
Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) Museums should reposition themselves to keep up with the changing times and play new roles in society, participants in an international conference on museum management agreed Thursday.
"Unless museums can keep pace with socio-political change, they will never fulfill their potential, " said David Fleming, president of the International Committee of Management (INTERCOM) of the International Council of Museums, on the first of the three-day INTERCOM annual meeting.
"Museums in Taiwan have taken the first step in repositioning and branding themselves, " said Chiu Kun-liang, chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) , in his opening remarks at the conference that gathered over 250 museum managers from 16 countries.
Museums are no longer places to display tangible and intangible cultural assets only, but should be seen as social enterprises whose social value is pre-eminent, according to Fleming.
The National Palace Museum (NPM) , Taiwan's most prestigious museum, has been trying to do just that, said NPM Director Lin Mun-lee.
"Conventional museums no longer satisfy people's needs and museums in Taiwan, including the NPM, have been trying to re-think their roles and futures, " she said.
"A modern museum should be able to create an intimacy to the public with innovative values and a 'serve the people' attitude like the service sector, " she added.
The conference, with the principal theme of the new roles and missions of museums, will conclude Saturday after discussions on various issues such as the new social relevance of museums, different types and roles of museums, and the local, regional and national identities of museums.
"Unless museums can keep pace with socio-political change, they will never fulfill their potential, " said David Fleming, president of the International Committee of Management (INTERCOM) of the International Council of Museums, on the first of the three-day INTERCOM annual meeting.
"Museums in Taiwan have taken the first step in repositioning and branding themselves, " said Chiu Kun-liang, chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA) , in his opening remarks at the conference that gathered over 250 museum managers from 16 countries.
Museums are no longer places to display tangible and intangible cultural assets only, but should be seen as social enterprises whose social value is pre-eminent, according to Fleming.
The National Palace Museum (NPM) , Taiwan's most prestigious museum, has been trying to do just that, said NPM Director Lin Mun-lee.
"Conventional museums no longer satisfy people's needs and museums in Taiwan, including the NPM, have been trying to re-think their roles and futures, " she said.
"A modern museum should be able to create an intimacy to the public with innovative values and a 'serve the people' attitude like the service sector, " she added.
The conference, with the principal theme of the new roles and missions of museums, will conclude Saturday after discussions on various issues such as the new social relevance of museums, different types and roles of museums, and the local, regional and national identities of museums.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
TAIWAN, U.S. SCHOLARS DISCUSS U.S. ELECTION BY VIDEOCONFERENCE
Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) The Democratic Party will make gains in the upcoming mid-term elections in the United States, the only question is to what extent, an American scholar predicted Wednesday via videoconference with Taiwanese scholars.
"The Democrats will make a gain. The only problem is how much the magnitude will be, " said Thomas Schaller, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in a videoconference organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
The 2006 general elections in the U.S. -- also referred to as midterm elections -- will take place Nov. 7. Thirty-three of 100 Senate seats, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 36 of 50 state governorships are up for election.
With Iraq and the economy the two key issues in the campaign and the low approval ratings of U.S. president George W. Bush, a Republican, the election's outcome should be in favor of the opposing Democratic Party, Schaller said.
The election can be viewed as a referendum on Bush, whose performance rating in the polls has been hanging low at around 30-40 percent because of his questionable handling of Iraq.
The Democrats have a chance to regain control of the House and the Senate for the first time since 1994, he said.
Interestingly, the results of an unofficial poll conducted by the AIT at the videoconference -- which was held in Taipei and Kaohsiung and attended by about 70 Taiwanese professors and graduate students -- showed a different perspective.
The Republican Party garnered over 60 percent of the vote in Taipei and Kaohsiung, the poll found.
The result revealed the conventional thinking in Taiwan -- that the Republican Party is "more supportive of Taiwan in cross-strait relations," said Yu Pen-li, a professor at Tamkang University.
The Taiwanese perspective on U.S. politics has been probably one-sided, Yu said, adding the Taiwanese should learn more about different positions of U.S. political parties on issues such as stem-cell research, same-sex marriage and immigration.
"The Democrats will make a gain. The only problem is how much the magnitude will be, " said Thomas Schaller, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in a videoconference organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
The 2006 general elections in the U.S. -- also referred to as midterm elections -- will take place Nov. 7. Thirty-three of 100 Senate seats, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 36 of 50 state governorships are up for election.
With Iraq and the economy the two key issues in the campaign and the low approval ratings of U.S. president George W. Bush, a Republican, the election's outcome should be in favor of the opposing Democratic Party, Schaller said.
The election can be viewed as a referendum on Bush, whose performance rating in the polls has been hanging low at around 30-40 percent because of his questionable handling of Iraq.
The Democrats have a chance to regain control of the House and the Senate for the first time since 1994, he said.
Interestingly, the results of an unofficial poll conducted by the AIT at the videoconference -- which was held in Taipei and Kaohsiung and attended by about 70 Taiwanese professors and graduate students -- showed a different perspective.
The Republican Party garnered over 60 percent of the vote in Taipei and Kaohsiung, the poll found.
The result revealed the conventional thinking in Taiwan -- that the Republican Party is "more supportive of Taiwan in cross-strait relations," said Yu Pen-li, a professor at Tamkang University.
The Taiwanese perspective on U.S. politics has been probably one-sided, Yu said, adding the Taiwanese should learn more about different positions of U.S. political parties on issues such as stem-cell research, same-sex marriage and immigration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)